Whenever you go to big cities, you see lots of tourist attractions. You have walking tours, museums, and buses. The buses usually drive around touristy areas and point out landmarks while stating fun facts. Tea Around Town takes these concepts and changes it up a bit by making it a tea-time experience.
I was able to take a Tea Around Town tour this week, and I enjoyed it. First of all, I must say that you are paying for the ride and the experience. The food and tea are fun but it’s about hanging out while getting sights of the city. The tour lasts about 75 minutes. In total, it’s about 90 minutes to get off the bus. When I boarded for my tour, it was on 42nd street (Midtown Manhattan), in the middle of 5th and 6th Avenue, on the Bryant Park/ New York Public Library side (basically across the street from Cava/Chipotle/Plnt Burger). Everyone sits at the upper level of the bus. There are a few steep stairs to go up to the second level. There’s a minimum purchase of two tickets. Premium admission tickets get priority boarding, guaranteed private table seating, and a glass of champagne.
Once you get up to the second level, you’ll be greeted with a festively pink-decorated bus. The roof of the bus is clear glass to allow you to see the skyscrapers as you drive by. The booths and tables have a 3-tier platter filled with small bites and desserts. Depending on which ticket you bought, standard or premium, defines what food is available.
The premium menu has smoked salmon, and lobster pot puff. There are also more sweets, such as eclairs and pumpkin cheesecake. You can see the menu here, and this is late 2023. But you can always check their site for the most updated menus and pricing.
The bus drives around Manhattan, hitting the touristy spots. While the driver, Miguel, is driving and giving fun facts, there are three hosts on board. One of them sings, and the others help serve different types of tea. Josh was our singer for this tour, and he was amazing. Given that the tour was in December, we got a lot of holiday season hits. When he wasn’t singing, jazz instrumentals of pop songs were being played. Nothing too loud or intrusive. We were able to converse while enjoying the tea and small bites.
Lexi was our tea server and gave us a bit of info on the before serving it. She asked if we’d like a taste or a half cup. We tasted the three teas and, toward the end, had the champagne. To me, the small desserts were better than the small food bites. The food wasn’t bad, just nothing to go crazy over. They are good snacks, but you will not be full from this, so plan to eat before or after. I did enjoy the Cool Down Cucumber and Truffle Egg Essence sandwiches. However, the Chocolate Mousse Tart and the Mini Eclairs were my faves. So good!
Taking the Tea Around Town New York City tour during December allowed us to see the holiday season in New York City from a fun and comfortable standpoint. We hit the usual landmarks like Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Terminal and saw skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.
I recommend this for those who want to get a quick guide to some of the important landmarks without having to walk a lot or spend too much time exploring. Remember that the bus does not stop for passengers to get off or take pictures. Pricing starts at $69. You can see pricing and any special deals HERE
As a native New Yorker, I try not to take this wonderful city for granted. The hustle and bustle of the city can often overshadow its unique and industrial beauty. If you know me, you know that I always play tourist in NY, so this was a fun tour ride for me.
